runtime error 13

Hi folks,
Every once in a while when I install a new freeware/shareware program to try it out, it seems to install fine, but then when I try to run the program, a box pops up with "Runtime error 13, Type mismatch" and the program either just quits, or won't let me go any further. It's always the same error code 13. Given the number of programs I try out, I suppose it isn't a chronic problem, but I would like to know if it can be overcome. Once, it occurred when I reinstalled a program I had installed, successfully run for a while, then uninstalled a few months before. I Googled and searched "runtime errors" on this board but couldn't find an answer (that I could understand anyway). Any help would be appreciated.
Chas

Same error but not necessarily the programs you're receiving it in http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;150778 however see the cause.

Thanks for responding Nix. That support page said that the regional settings should be set to "English (U.S)" which they already were. The only thing I might have changed at one time is the date style. I don't know if that might have made the difference, but perhaps I should try changing it back; do you know what the default is?
Thanks,
Chas

No sorry I've change mine to be standard Australian format eg dd/mm/yyyy.

Maybe someon ein the US can come back and tell us.

Well, I checked the regional settings on a newly installed Win98, and mine are the same, so I guess that's not the problem. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Thanks, Chas

Now, I'm really bugged by this runtime error thing. I just installed a freeware "To Do" program. This time I received the message "Run time error 429 Active X component can't create object" and couldn't run the program. Different error message, but same result. Any help would be appreciated.
Chas